The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-01-21
miscellaneous.
THE FLEA AND THE KING.
One Of Victor HugO's Tales 10 His
Grand chf rem.


! Once upon q time there was wicked king
who made his people very unhappy. Every
body detestcd him. and those whom he had
put in prison and heheaded would have
liked to whip him. But hows He was the
strongest he was the master. He did not
have to give account to any one; and, when
he was told that his subjects were not con-
tent he replied:
"Well, what of il? don't care rapr'
which was an ugly answer.
AS he continued 10 act like king, and as
he became every day little more wicked
than the day before, this set certain little
flea TO thinking over the matter. 1t was a
| little bit of q flea, who was OF no conse-
quence at all, but full of good sentiments
This is not the nature of fleas In general, but
this one had been very well brought up. 1t
bit people with moderation, and only when
ii was very hungry.
"What if were to bring the king TO rca-
son ~ it said to itself. at is not without
danger But no matter ! will try p
That nj hit, the wicked king, after having
done all sorts of naughty things during the
day, was calmly going to sleep, when he felt
what seemed to he the prick OF Il pin.
"Bitew
He growlcd, and turned over on the other
side.
"Bile! Bite Bite!'
"Who is it that bites me so !" cried the
king, in terrible voice.
at is /, replied Il little voice.
You Who are you ?"
"a d,llie iIea VINO WISHES 10 correct you
"A nea ous' you wall 'ustS you walt ana
YOU snail see ,,o,.
anu lne KING sPiahs ilo,,l ms oeu, twisted
MS covering, ana SHOOK sne sneeIs, an OF
"h,Gh Was dui,e useless LOT tne good hea
mao nlraen i'sell III 'ne foyai oearu.
An, sag 'he kinS, ~ mas gone now
ana shail NC ape " se. sounu Steep
put scarcely haa he laio Ills head on The
piii1W, When-
,n nlte! u,o
DIV 1o" MN " ,i ~ As"in
u 1,'e' ,, D.te - - ;.,, ,,,.,-
e s9 Duo uatG 10 t r you soom hd ii.lle
1ea but .nink iol mome.t WHAT you are
cong, you are no Digger IMAM n a grain OF
sanu, anu you uaie W oi'e ohe Vi 'he great
est Kings On eartn
wen, "nal vi IL 1 uon care rap an
swereu inc hea' III Tue very WORDS Oh the
King
An, II only hau you
res, Dut you maven gov me
me wicked KING uiu NOT sleep az all That
high', ana ne arose me next morning Ill
,.o
MS enemy. bY MS ofaers' they cleaned The
palace from Top 10 oottohi, ana particularly
dis bedroom. lis yea was maze ny ten old
women, very shllliui IN Tue arr OF catchihg
meas. put they caught nolning, LOT the good
lea hao hioaeh itseii uhoer the collar OF the
kings coat; "
ihat night, lhis lIlghtlul tyranl Who was
aylng ior want OF steep, lay BACK ON Doth
MS ears, although THIS IS SAID to be very DIFF
ncuit. But ne wished 10 sleep double, and
ne knew no peIter way. 1 wish you may
hnd better. scarcely had he put out bis
light, when ne lelt Inc nca on his neck.
bite! Bite!
"Ab, POUNDS what is tbis!
~ Is l., the hea OF yesterday.
but what DO you want, you rascal, you
tiny pest =
Il wish you TO obey me. and to make your
people happy
no there, my soldiers, my captain OF the
guard, my ministers, my generals Every
BODY Inc whole iot OF your
The whole lot OF them came IN. The King
was in rage which made everybody trem-
Bile. He found fault with all the servants of
me palace. everybody was IN consterna-
tion. during TINS Tune, the ilea, quite calm,
kept ltseli ma III the kings nightcap.
Inc guards were uouoled, laws ana de-
crees were made, ordinances were published
against all flcas; there were PROFESSIONS and
public prayers to ask OF Heaven the exter-
mlnation OF the ilea, ana SOUND sleep tor the
King. IL was oil OF no avail. The wretched
King could not he Gown, even on ,he grass
without being attacked by his obstinate enc